US Outspends China on Fossil Fuel Power as Data Center Demand Surges

The spending surge centers on a frantic race for gas turbines, with US firms placing orders for 20 gigawatts of capacity in the first quarter alone. Supply constraints have sent prices skyrocketing; Rystad Energy analysts report costs for these units have jumped from $800 to over $2,500 per kilowatt-hour. Beyond data centers, the integration of intermittent wind and solar power has forced grid operators to prioritize reliable baseload generation to maintain stability during weather-dependent lulls.

Production capacity for these essential turbines has remained largely stagnant, creating a severe market deficit. Siemens Energy recently reported a record backlog of 102 new turbines, with nearly half of those orders originating from the United States. Mitsubishi is similarly scrambling to keep pace, announcing plans to double its production capacity after initial expansion goals proved insufficient. As manufacturers struggle to clear these orders, the premium on hardware continues to drive the total US investment figure above that of traditional rivals.